Key Highlights
- Eight healthy babies were born in the UK through mitochondrial donation IVF, where embryos carry DNA from three individuals to prevent mitochondrial diseases.
- Disease-causing mitochondrial DNA was dramatically reduced, and all eight children are developing normally, with no signs of inherited mitochondrial disorders.
- Australia plans its first clinical trial in 2026, pending regulatory approval following the success of the UK’s landmark program.
In a milestone for genetic medicine, Newcastle University scientists in the UK have successfully delivered eight healthy babies using mitochondrial donation, a technique that replaces faulty mitochondria in a mother’s egg with healthy mitochondria from a third-party donor. This creates embryos with genetic contributions from the mother, father, and donor—hence the “three‑parent” label.
The trial began in 2017 under UK regulation and has since confirmed that the eight infants, four boys and four girls, including identical twins, have developed healthily without signs of mitochondrial disease. In most cases, mutated mitochondrial DNA was reduced to undetectable levels.
Australia Eyes Adoption of the Technique
Australia, the only other country to legalize mitochondrial donation (under Maeve’s Law in 2022), has yet to launch clinical trials. Researchers at Monash University have received government funding for the mitoHOPE trial, targeting a 2026 start.
However, regulatory concerns, most notably over informed consent from egg donors, have delayed approval. The UK results are bolstering momentum.
Ethical and Scientific Implications
While the term “three‑parent babies” dominates headlines, scientists emphasize that the donor contributes only a tiny fraction of the genome, just 13 mitochondrial genes out of roughly 20,000, thus exerting no influence on traits like appearance or personality.
The technique is, however, subject to rigorous follow-up due to risks of mtDNA reversion, where disease-causing mitochondria may resurface over time.
As regulators and clinicians weigh both promise and ethical caution, this landmark program offers renewed hope for families affected by devastating mitochondrial disorders, while setting a precedent for other countries considering similar therapies.